Carbine Rifle
Assault rifle
The most balanced weapon. If buying only one, choose this.
Fifty weapons. You need five.
The game has over fifty weapons, but five are decisive. The rest are variants or occasional novelties. This explains what is genuinely worth buying and why.
Weapon comparison
Click a column heading to sort
Where the figures come from
Values come from the bars shown by the game in shops and garages.
The bars are not actual measured performance. Rockstar simplifies them, and some vehicles feel different from their displayed values. Use them as a rough in-game comparison.
Check every value yourself: vehicles at Los Santos Customs and weapons at Ammu-Nation. The displayed bars are the values listed here.
DamageFire rateAccuracyRange
| Category | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RPG | Heavy weapon | 100 | 8 | 50 | 70 |
| Sniper Rifle | Sniper rifle | 90 | 10 | 90 | 95 |
| Pump Shotgun | Shotgun | 68 | 25 | 20 | 15 |
| Carbine Rifle | Assault rifle | 40 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Assault Rifle | Assault rifle | 40 | 55 | 40 | 45 |
| Combat Pistol | Pistol | 27 | 45 | 45 | 35 |
| Micro SMG | Submachine gun | 22 | 75 | 30 | 25 |
Values range from 0 to 100, following the in-game displays.
Assault Rifle
Assault rifle
Cheaper and available earlier than the Carbine, with lower medium-range accuracy.
Micro SMG
Submachine gun
The only practical weapon for firing from a car, making it more useful than a rifle during pursuits.
Pump Shotgun
Shotgun
Drops an enemy with one shot indoors but is nearly useless several metres away.
Sniper Rifle
Sniper rifle
Needed in roughly three missions. At close range, reloading takes too long.
Combat Pistol
Pistol
A sidearm that lasts the whole game. Costlier pistols add too little value.
RPG
Heavy weapon
Keep it for helicopters at higher wanted levels; otherwise it is unnecessary.
Seven categories and their uses
Based on when you genuinely need them
| Category | Role | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pistols | Sidearm | Quick to draw and available from the start | Small magazine and weak at range |
| Submachine guns | Close range and vehicle use | The only practical choice when firing from a car | Spread at longer range |
| Assault rifles | Primary weapon for most missions | Versatile at short and medium range | Awkward in confined spaces |
| Shotguns | Confined spaces | Drops an enemy with one shot at close range | Nearly ineffective several metres away |
| Sniper rifles | Specific missions | A reliable long-range hit | Reloading is fatal at close range |
| Heavy weapons | Helicopters and armoured vehicles | Destroys targets other weapons cannot penetrate | Slow, expensive ammunition and dangerous nearby |
| Melee weapons and grenades | Supplementary | Grenades and explosives are required in some missions | Melee weapons cannot compete with firearms |
Pistols
The Combat Pistol lasts the whole game. Costlier variants add too little value.
Submachine guns
The Micro SMG is cheap and invaluable in pursuits. The Assault SMG is better, but not decisively.
Assault rifles
The Carbine Rifle has the best balance of accuracy and fire rate. If buying one weapon, choose it.
Shotguns
The Pump Shotgun is sufficient. The Assault Shotgun is faster but consumes ammunition rapidly.
Sniper rifles
The Sniper Rifle is needed in roughly three missions. A costlier version is unnecessary.
Heavy weapons
Keep an RPG for helicopters at higher wanted levels. Otherwise it is unnecessary.
Melee weapons and grenades
Carry grenades and Sticky Bombs. Explosives are indispensable in heists and for destroying vehicles.
Upgrades worth buying
Ordered by usefulness
Ammu-Nation can modify weapons. Not every upgrade is useful, and one makes the game considerably easier.
- 1
Extended magazine
Doubles the rounds available before reloading.
Is it worth it? Always buy it. Reloading during a firefight is the most common cause of death.
- 2
Scope / reflex sight
More accurate aiming at medium range.
Is it worth it? Useful on assault rifles, not submachine guns used at close range.
- 3
Grip
Reduces spread during long bursts.
Is it worth it? Useful on weapons fired continuously.
- 3
High-impact ammunition
Higher damage, available for some weapons.
Is it worth it? Useful if affordable; the difference is apparent against armoured enemies.
- 4
Suppressor
Quieter shot with slightly lower damage.
Is it worth it? Only useful for quiet heist approaches; otherwise unnecessary.
- 5
Flashlight
Illuminates a target in darkness.
Is it worth it? Almost never useful, and it also reveals your position.
Five things the game does not explain
Use the special ability before buying a better weapon
Michael's aiming slow motion makes an ordinary pistol more effective than an expensive rifle without it. Learn the ability before spending at Ammu-Nation.
Buy ammunition before leaving
Refill every weapon before a major mission. Shops are unavailable in a firefight and fallen enemies provide few rounds.
Sticky Bombs deal with vehicles
One explosive destroys a car full of enemies. Firearms require half a magazine and expose you to return fire.
Weapons are not shared between characters
Each character has separate equipment. A weapon bought for Michael is unavailable to Trevor, and switching gives no warning.
Buy armour before the mission
Purchase armour at Ammu-Nation before starting. It is unavailable during the mission and makes a decisive survival difference.
Where it all comes into use
In the heists. Your crew and approach determine whether the quiet route is sufficient or you need full equipment.